The Never-Ending Classroom at 39,000 Feet

Most people imagine airline pilots as having made it once they're in the seat. But the truth is, becoming a pilot is just the beginning. What really keeps us sharp, safe, and professional is recurrent training.

Every year, we go through a rigorous and structured training cycle designed to make sure we’re not just competent but always improving. The underlying philosophy is rooted in professional development, and it's supported by a safety-first mindset called JUST Culture. That means we report issues without fear of punishment, learn from our experiences, and feed that insight directly back into training. This system, known as Evidence-Based Training (EBT), is now the norm at most major airlines.

Simulator Training: Where Skills Stay Sharp

Every pilot completes 4 days of simulator training per year - typically split into two sessions in the summer and winter seasons. Each sim session lasts for 4 hours, followed by a 90-minute brief and 30-minute debrief.

We tackle a wide variety of scenarios, including:

Engine Failure After Takeoff (EFATO)

Single Engine Go-Around & Landing

Rejected Takeoff (RTO)

3D and 2D Approaches

We also train for rare and complex failures that most pilots will never encounter in their entire career. These include dual hydraulic failure, unreliable airspeed, flight control jams, emergency descents, electrical system failures, and smoke or fumes in the cockpit. On top of that, we regularly practice core flying skills such as stall recovery and UPRT (Upset Prevention and Recovery Training), as well as seasonal operations like winter weather procedures and low visibility approaches.

One of those days is called an LPC (Licence Proficiency Check) - our annual "exam." Pass/fail.

You might think it's intense. It is. But like your favourite strong brew, you get used to it. In fact, it becomes part of the rhythm of being a professional pilot.

Training & Being Graded

We practice everything and anything from;

Circling approaches and rare runway operations

Approach qualifications for unique airports (think Salzburg in winter fog)

Complex system failures: dual hydraulics, electrical chaos, flight control jams

Smoke & fumes drills, emergency descents, unreliable airspeed scenarios

UPRT (Upset Prevention & Recovery Training) to safely recover from stalls

And low visibility ops, especially during the winter months

Each training session is graded using Pilot Competencies, scored 1–5. Scores of 1 or 2 may require retraining. But don’t worry - it’s all delivered with a supportive tone. This isn’t a place to "catch you out" - it’s about getting better.

Need to power through your post-sim debrief? Fuel up with Jumbo Jet Espresso.

SEP & CRM: Beyond the Cockpit

Recurrent training isn't just about flying. Each year we also complete:

SEP (Security & Emergency Procedures)

• Done alongside cabin crew

• Firefighting, emergency evacuations, drills

• Equipment reviews and best practices

CRM (Crew Resource Management)

• Learn how human factors affect safety

• Review recent industry incidents

• Focus on communication, workload sharing, and decision-making

It’s not glamorous, but it keeps us safer. These are the tools that make us a team, not just a pair of pilots.

Annual Tech Quiz & Line Checks

Then there's the ATQ (Annual Technical Quiz) - a 50-question written exam. Pass mark: 75%.

And once a year, we also get a line check. A training captain sits in the jumpseat during a normal day and quietly observes, assesses, and provides feedback.

It might seem like a lot, and it is. But in time, it all becomes second nature. You grow to enjoy it. Like flying itself, training becomes a discipline, a craft, a way of life.

Sometimes, between the early alarm for the simulator and your third espresso, you remember why you signed up in the first place.

Final Thoughts

Yes, there's always another test. Another check. Another debrief. But that’s what makes this industry so strong. It's not just about staying qualified - it's about staying better and safer for the real world.

Whether you’re sitting in a simulator sweating through an EFATO or sipping a flat white after nailing a tricky circling approach, it's all part of the same mission: professionalism, safety, growth.

And, of course, good coffee.

Nathan Raab
Airline Pilot | Better Coffee Advocate | Jet Bean Founder